by Ronica Black
Krista just stared. As she was about to speak, Cody found his way out of his tent. His large smile vanished when he saw the look on Krista’s face. It was obvious that he’d stumbled into a heated conversation. He beat his cowboy hat on his leg before placing it on his head.
“Mornin’,” he said, lowering his head as if Krista were a rattlesnake about to strike.
“Morning, Cody,” Rae greeted him.
Krista whispered a good morning, then said, “Please excuse me,” and walked off into the desert.
“Everything okay?” Cody poured himself some coffee.
Rae shrugged. “As good as could be expected, I suppose.”
Cody sat on one of the guest’s camp stools and blew on his coffee. “How’d Ms. Wyler do yesterday?”
Rae folded her arms over her chest, curious. “What do you mean?”
Cody swung his head around, obviously making sure Krista was nowhere within earshot. “On the horse?” he mumbled.
“Is there some issue with her and horses?” The answer was obvious but Rae wanted to know.
Cody stared down into his mug. “Dwight says she hasn’t been on one in fifteen years. Something happened. But I don’t know what.”
Rae cleared her throat as Krista reappeared. Her cheeks were a little wet and her eyes were heavy with moisture. Had she been crying? Unable to help herself, Rae asked, “You okay?”
“I’m fine, thanks.” Krista held Rae’s stare for a moment, then asked, “Can I help finish preparing breakfast?”
“Please do, because it already smells good enough to eat,” Frank bellowed, stretching in the cool morning air. His teeth were as white as his beard as he smiled.
The rest of the group awakened shortly after Frank. They moved about with excitement, eager for another day on the trail. The oatmeal was flavored with brown sugar, thanks to Krista’s help, and they had some dried fruit to go along with it. The coffee was good, strong, and plentiful. Tom offered lots of praise as he ate, while Adam primped more than the women, shaving with a travel razor and brushing and flossing his teeth.
Candace emerged from her tent looking almost perfect, her nipples erect and poking through the fabric of her thin bra and shirt. She pulled on a fleece pink jacket that went well with her pink tasseled boots. She gave Rae a thousand-watt smile over breakfast and insisted again on helping to clean up.
Howie was the last to rise, much to Rae’s dismay, and he was obviously suffering from a hangover. His hair stood out on his head and he seemed to have an uncontrollable itch in his crotch area because he scratched for a good ten minutes straight. With heavy, blurry-looking eyes, he swished his mouth out with coffee and spat, coughed, and spat again.
He caught Rae eyeing him. “Something I can help you with, Doc?” His voice sounded like the rough skin of a Gila monster.
“Not especially,” Rae countered. “But the guests could use help packing their gear.”
He grumbled under his breath and set to work straight away helping Tillie. His broad grin gave away that he had switched his ogling to the quieter woman, although Rae still caught him glancing at Candace’s backside from time to time. But the cowboy worked and kept his thoughts and hands to himself, and Tillie seemed good at giving him direction, so Rae let him be.
About an hour later, the sun had fully risen and the group had finished packing up the campsite. They saddled up and Rae replaced her ball cap with the Stetson. From the corner of her eye, she could see Krista still standing by her horse. Rae didn’t say anything at first, but thought if she gave the direction to the group Krista might feel less pressure.
“We’re going to run into the cattle today. Keep your ropes ready.” She patted the side of her saddle where hers hung. “There’s going to be more than a few strays.” Several heads nodded. “Follow Cody, Howie, or myself when going after a stray. Do not attempt to go off on your own. Understood?”
The last thing they needed was a guest falling behind and getting lost while chasing a stray, or wandering into the middle of the herd and causing a stampede.
When everyone seemed in agreement, Rae tipped her hat. “Let’s move out, then.”
Cody whistled and Adam and Frank hollered their best “move outs!” Rae remained on her horse in the same position, watching as the small herd of wannabe cowboys trotted off. With her hands resting calmly on her saddle horn, she turned to look at Krista, who still had both feet firmly on dry ground.
“I don’t need any help if that’s what you’re thinking,” Krista said.
Rae merely smiled and looked straight ahead. “I wasn’t thinking any such thing.”
“Good, because like I told you yesterday—”
“Yes, I got it,” Rae softly interrupted. “You don’t need any help.” She could feel the green eyes boring into the side of her face, but she remained calm.
“No, I don’t,” Krista reaffirmed.
“Good, glad to hear it.” She didn’t move.
Krista put her hands on her hips. “You can go.”
Rae scratched her cheek, acting bored. “Nope, can’t do that.”
“Why not?”
“Never leave a man behind.”
Krista scoffed. “This isn’t the damned Marine Corps.”
Rae looked at her directly. “No, it’s not.”
“Then go.”
“Lindsay said you were a hellfire.”
Krista sucked in a quick breath and Rae knew the fury was sure to follow. “Is that a fact?”
“Yeah, that’s a fact.” Rae met Krista’s eyes. “And I’m beginning to think she was right.”
“Is that what you and she do? Sit around, picking the manure off your boots and making up names for people?”
Rae fought off a grin. “No, just moody women.”
“Moody!”
“Yep, Lindsay’s always right too. Never once has she been wrong about a woman.”
Krista’s sunburnt face turned so dark red Rae thought she would burst like a balloon. “You, well, you’re wrong this time!”
“Am I?” Rae raised an eyebrow.
Krista glanced down at herself and dropped the hands from her hips. “Leave. Leave now!”
Rae clicked her horse and trotted over to Krista, deciding she’d given her a hard enough time. At least for now. “I can’t,” she said softly. “You’re not prepared.”
Krista narrowed her eyes. “I’m not prepared?”
“That’s right. It seems that you spent so much of your time readying everyone else for the trail that you forgot about you.” Rae took off her Stetson and handed it over. Then she placed her trusty ball cap on her own head. “Go ahead, put it on.”
Krista looked at the hat, startled. “But it’s yours.”
“Not anymore.” Rae smiled.
“I can’t, it’s yours and—”
“Put on the hat, Ms. Wyler,” Rae said firmly. She was still smiling.
Krista hesitated but placed the black hat on her head. It appeared to be a little large but she maneuvered it to where it fit best. “Well?”
Rae clenched her jaw. Krista looked stunning. Her auburn hair hung thick just below her shoulders, shining in the morning sun. The hat mischievously hid her penetrating green eyes, but fully showed off her high cheekbones and lush lips.
“You look…” Rae cleared her throat and glanced away. “It looks good.”
Krista was staring at her again, Rae could feel it. She tugged on the bill of her cap. “Come on now, saddle up. Or we’ll have to catch up, and you don’t want to be stuck with just me again all day, do you?” She gave an easy smile, trying to lighten the heavy desire that had washed over her.
Krista’s mouth tugged to one side. “No, we wouldn’t want that.”
Rae thought for a moment and then slid off her horse, tossing Krista a small bottle of sunscreen. “Don’t want you getting burnt again today.”
Krista seemed at a loss for words as she shook the bottle and squeezed out some lotion. She circled it into her skin, u
nder her eyes and over her cheeks. Then she removed her jacket and rubbed some into her arms. Rae flushed at the sight of her ample breasts in the snug-fitting T-shirt. Candace doesn’t have a thing on you.
Krista kept working, apparently not noticing Rae’s preoccupation, and added some to her neck. When she finished she snapped the lid shut and returned it to Rae, who quickly tucked it in her saddle bag.
Rae was about to hold out her hand to help Krista in the saddle, but a white spot of sunscreen caught her attention. “You’ve got some lotion.” Rae pointed to her own cheek.
Krista’s hand flew up to her face but she couldn’t find it. “Did I get it?”
Rae took a step closer, “No, it’s…”
Hesitantly, she reached up and gently touched Krista’s cheek. A soft breath escaped Krista, and Rae swore her skin heated under her touch. With her thumb, Rae smoothed out the lotion, and she swallowed back the lump in her throat. Touching Krista had sent her body into overdrive, and the feeling nearly knocked her to her knees.
Krista rubbed at her cheek nervously.
They stood in silence for a few moments, Rae trying to get her composure back and Krista unsure as to what to say. Finally, Rae held out her hand, the meaning obvious. Krista studied it a moment. Without a word, she nodded her acceptance of the offered help. She took Rae’s hand and stepped into the stirrup. She reached for the saddle horn but her hand slipped and she lost her balance and fell backward. Rae held her tightly, catching her, their faces mere inches apart. She saw the spark ignite in Krista’s eyes, watched her rose-colored lips part and beckon. Rae could feel Krista’s warm breath mingle with her own. Both remained very still for what felt like an eternity.
No, it can’t happen. Rae glanced away and allowed Krista to regain her footing. She then placed steadying hands on her shoulders but couldn’t bring herself to look in her eyes. “Let’s try again.”
She offered her hand and Krista slipped her foot into the stirrup, this time gripping the saddle horn securely. With Rae’s supporting hand on her hip, she pulled herself up.
Rae stepped back. “You good?”
Krista met her eyes fleetingly, a brush of color on her cheeks. “Yes. Thank you.” The gratitude sounded genuine and not curt and firm like her usual remarks. “And just for the record, Dr. Jarrett…I don’t dislike you.”
Rae waited a moment to see if she would say more, but Krista stared straight ahead, her back erect. Feeling more than a little warm from their encounter, Rae pulled herself up onto Shamrock, and the two women started off the way the others had gone. Rae kept the pace slow. Krista still gripped the horn tightly and she still rode stiffly, but the fear had left her face.
Yes, you are a hellfire, Krista Wyler, Rae thought to herself. A beautiful, beautiful hellfire.
Chapter Eleven
The day was glorious by Arizona spring standards. The sky was vast and a startling clear blue, not a cloud in sight. But the mild, sunny air didn’t do a thing for Krista and her aching ass and back. Careful not to let go of the reins, she twisted her wrist to glance at her watch. “Christ.”
They’d only been riding for a little over an hour.
Rae Jarrett must have heard the curse because she glanced back. Krista lifted her hand to give a small wave, then quickly grabbed the saddle horn. She let out a long, slow breath when Rae returned her attention to the trail ahead.
She meant to concentrate on the surroundings and the need to keep constant control of her horse, but her eyes were trained on the tense muscles and tendons in Rae’s arms, slick with sweat and kissed by the sun. Krista licked her lips, having felt their power firsthand. And the way Rae had looked at her a mere hour before. Was she crazy or had the vet been equally affected?
She thought back to Rae and Candace the night before, all cozy and erotic with the massage by the firelight. There was no way Rae was feeling anything for her in comparison to Candace. She’d only just voiced her concern over whether Krista even liked her.
God, what am I thinking? Krista wiped some sweat from her cheek. The Stetson was giving her face the ample shade it needed and she reminded herself to thank Rae again for letting her wear it. The gesture was very nice.
Great, so now I know for sure she’s nice. The discovery didn’t help the attraction factor in the slightest. Why can’t she be mean? A mean ole cowgirl who chews and has rough hands and a very prominent red neck?
Krista continued to debate within herself as they traveled through the turned-up dirt from the group ahead of them. In the near distance, beyond the handful of manned horses, stood the Wyler cattle, spread rather thin with a few dozen strays off to the sides of the herd. Krista’s heart rate kicked up at the thought of having to maneuver Dollar a lot better than she had been so far. She stared at Rae, riding a few yards ahead, and thought about telling the truth as to why she was so afraid. But just as quickly, she forced the urge back, determined not to show weakness in front of the strong veterinarian. Rae and her little assistant already had a nickname for her. What would they say if she shrank into the background while the guests rounded up the cattle? Krista could just imagine the new names they would come up with.
With brimming determination, she straightened her back and gave Dollar a soft kick. When he broke into a slow trot, she lurched forward and nearly lost her balance. With panicked hands she reached for the rein and tugged. Dollar responded at once, bringing them to a stop. Breathing hard, Krista had to wave Rae off once again. “I’m fine.”
“You seem to be getting the hang of it, Ms. Wyler,” Rae said, drifting back so their horses met side by side. “That trot looked pretty good for about two seconds.”
Krista felt herself heat. “Think so?” Her only choice was to tease back, to take it like a woman.
“Absolutely.” Rae chuckled, obviously enjoying the playfulness.
God, she’s incredible. Krista let her grin widen. I’ll say anything to see her smile like that. Even if I have to fall off my damned horse.
Around them voices whistled and called out to the cattle, the fun beginning.
Krista didn’t want this moment to end. The way Rae looked, all strong and ruggedly handsome, smiling at her from her horse, the big blue sky behind her. Krista knew she should fight her thoughts and feelings but they felt too good. Too right.
“Call me Krista,” she said softly.
Rae’s grin tilted. “Sure thing. As soon as you start calling me Rae.” With a wink and a tug on her hat, she gave Shamrock a gentle kick. “You fine staying back here for a while?” she asked as she rode toward Cody.
Krista nodded, too overwhelmed to even voice a response. What had just happened? She winked at me, that’s what happened. She winked and smiled and took my breath away. She watched as Rae conversed with Cody and the two hollered out to the people who rode alongside them.
Cody brought the supply horse he was leading over to Krista. “Can you handle her?”
Krista swallowed, hesitant but unwilling to say so. “Sure.” She took the offered rein.
The gray mare stared at her with blank eyes.
“Trust me, I’m not thrilled either,” Krista told the horse.
She gave Dollar a kick and he nudged up past the mare and the two fell in line, with Dollar in the lead. Krista held tight and prayed that both horses would behave. She watched with envy as Rae and Cody began wrangling cattle. Howie had the remainder of the group out on the far right, pointing and hollering.
Soon enough the dust and smell of the cattle was so thick Krista was waving it away from her face. She used to enjoy this, but she had no idea why. Was the dirt and stench always this bad? Coughing, she took off her hat and waved the dust away. Loud laughter caught her attention and she put the hat back on and rubbed her eyes. Looking out to her left, she saw Candace trying to crawl up on Rae’s horse. Rae said something but Krista couldn’t make it out. Candace was determined and after a moment, Rae scooted back and allowed her up to share the saddle.
Krista watched in horr
or as Rae leaned into her, both their hands together on the rope. Rae raised Candace’s arm and they swung the rope together in the air, Candace giggling like a schoolgirl.
“That’s it,” Krista declared to Dollar, tugging the Stetson on tight and releasing the mare to stand alone. “Let’s go, boy.”
She gave a soft heel and Dollar broke into a trot. Krista fought off a frightened moan as they began to gallop and she nearly lost her balance. But somehow, some way, she managed to hold on and stay on the saddle.
As she approached Rae, Adam met her on his horse, designer sunglasses covering his eyes.
“Hey, hot stuff,” he greeted with a smile. “Looking good.”
Krista brought Dollar to a halt, her eyes still on Rae and Candace, who were now tossing the rope out at a calf. “Thanks.”
Adam followed her gaze. “She needs help roping,” he half-heartedly explained.
“Don’t we all.”
Adam laughed. “Then let’s go ask for some.”
Krista trotted Dollar with fierceness in her chest, and while Adam stopped alongside Rae and Candace, she continued on, grabbing the rope that hung from her saddle. She slowed Dollar alongside a wandering calf and gripped the horn of the saddle tightly with her left hand while swinging the rope over her head with the right.
I can do this. I used to do it all the time as a kid.
With her jaw set, she swung and swung until the rhythm felt right and then she let loose. The rope hit the right side of the calf, and she pulled quickly to tighten the noose. The lasso fell just off the side of the calf’s snout, missing by a mere inch.
“Damn!”
“Hey, that was pretty good!” Adam called out as he rode up to her.
Winding the rope, Krista said, “Not good enough.” Damn, she’d really wanted to show up Candace. And to show Rae that she wasn’t completely useless.
Adam began whipping his rope in the air, the calf still in front of them. His loop grew larger and larger with every swing. Krista flinched as it whacked her in the arm.
“Sorry.” He laughed, hanging himself with the failed lasso.